Chairpersons: Jean Nickel and Jen Crawford
Other members: Tina Aiello, Danielle Keis, Patrick LaBella, Lisa Scanlon
Logistics and Facilities Research Committee Meeting Notes 8/30/2010
Those in attendance: Jen Crawford, Jean Nickel, Dave Olson, Jennifer Mahar, Molly Martinelli, Dennis Martinelli, Sabrina Gibbons, Pat LaBella
Those Absent: Tina Jakubczyk, Tina Aiello-Austin, Erin Isaman, Tonya Doxey, Rob DeFazio, Lisa Sagona
Meeting Start time: 6:00 at EV Meeting Adjourned: 8:30 Location: Eastview Elementary
The committee met and discussed the feasibility of having EV and BV be the two schools on the west end of Olean.
We discussed several things in regards to the restructuring. Many of our questions took us back to money and education issues.
We felt that if we had a goal of what was the most important reason for the restructuring it would give us more of a focus for our purpose; but one was never established. Should our goal be to accommodate the students bathroom needs, parents needs, or to be able to drop off and pick up their child/ren or should it be the academic needs? What main need would the district like up to concentrate on?
After a very lengthy discussion we decided to tour the building. Due to the ongoing construction the building (EV) was in total disarray. Many of the discussions that we had while we toured the building seemed to go back to things related to the other 2 committees-Education + Financial.
We discussed the enormous task of moving table, chairs, desks, and other furniture to accommodate the children at each of the buildings. Who would do this? How much would that cost? When would it happen?
We also discussed the feasibility of bussing students? What happens if a student misses the bus? And their parents do not have a car to get them to the school that is far across town. ALSO, How much would buses cost to bus the children? We felt that having the children bussed would be a reoccurring cost that would happen every year—Is it really going to save the schools district money if we have to bus students year after year?
Next meeting to be on Sept. 1 @ 3:30 at Boardmanville Elementary we will tour that building and then we will move on to tour Washington West.
Logistics and Facilities Research Committee Meeting Notes 9/1/2010
Those in attendance: Jean Nickel-(Co-Chairperson), Pat LaBella, Tina Jakubczyk
Those Absent: Jennifer Crawford, Dave Olson, Jennifer Mahar, Tina Aiello-Austin, Erin Isaman, Tonya Doxey, Rob DeFazio, Lisa Sagona, Jen Crawford, Molly Martinelli, Dennis Martinelli, Sabrina Gibbons, Pat LaBella, Lisa Scanlon, Colleen Davis
Meeting Start time: 3:30 at BV Meeting Adjourned: 5:00 Location: Boardmanville-Washington West
We toured the building at Boardmanville, which was still under construction at the time. We then went to Washington West and viewed the facilities there.
We looked at room sizes and bathroom facilities available in the rooms. A few questions?
Shouldn’t the older/larger students have the use of the larger facilities, such as the gym and the art room due to their physical size and abilities?
Another point brought up. The nurses facilities, most of the children that the nurse sees in the morning are K-2 age level. If we double those numbers how will the nurse be able to accommodate all of those kids at once for head checks (Lice), medications and parents that just pop in to talk to the nurse? The nurses office at Washington West is very small.
Currently all of the students are using the stairs at BV to get from one location to another, is that really an issue in deciding what building should be used for the grade level groups?
Next meeting: Sept. 13 to tour IJN at 5:00 before the general meeting at 6:00 Logistics and Facilities Research Committee
Meeting Notes 10/4/2010
Those in attendance: Jean Nickel-(Co-Chairperson), Ann Ramarge, Tina Jakubczyk, Jennifer Mahar, Sabrina Gibbons, Danielle Keis, Dave Olson
Those Absent: Jennifer Crawford, Pat LaBella, Tina Aiello-Austin, Erin Isaman, Tonya Doxey, Molly Martinelli, Dennis Martinelli
After reviewing the floor plans of the four elementary buildings our committee conceded that Boardmanville and Eastview Elementary could be partnered. This would mean that Eastview would house all the Pre-K through 2nd grade classes and Boardmanville would house the third, fourth, and fifth grades. Additionally Washington West and Ivers J. Norton could be partnered with Washington West housing Pre-K through 2nd Grade and IJN housing third, fourth and fifth graders. This second partnering between IJN and Washington West would be a very tight fit and would require adjustments for another speech room. (Please see the EV-BV and WW-IJN Configurations below after this report for details).Although the numbers worked in partnering the schools, the committee determined that the following questions and concerns must be addressed. Some of these are logistical with or without monetary issues and some are philosophical concerns. These questions and concerns came from individual committee members as well as the community at large.
· Pre-K students use and require more of the school nurses time.
With all of the Pre-K through 2nd grade children housed at either Eastview or Washington West, the nurses office space, as well as attending nursing personnel must be looked at very closely. On a daily basis the nurse’s office is visited by many students and/or parents in the Pre-K through 2nd grade age group. That age group has more health issues. Therefore, doubling the number of students in that age group at both Washington West and Eastview could very well overwhelm the space and personnel.
In addition to this daily overload the nurses in these buildings must complete a full physical screening of each Pre-K students within the first ninety days of school. With just two buildings housing multiple Pre-K classes this could potentially cause another overload of both space and personnel. How will we address these issues and at what cost?
· The Impact on Reading First Program
How will the Reading First programs be impacted at both of the primary buildings? Scheduling special classes for those students will be very difficult. We have adopted the plan that reading should be scheduled in the morning. In order to schedule specials for the children in the two primary buildings, some classes would have to have reading in the afternoon. Would that be in the best interest of the children? Allocations are based on the district's numbers.
· East vs West
Boardmanville and Eastview have fewer free school lunches than Washington West and Ivers J. Norton. This would divide the students economically. The Poor kids vs the Rich kids. Could this possibly affect our funding in Title 1?
· Scheduling of Lunch
Scheduling lunch times in a building of all primary aged children will be something that needs attention. Presently in elementary buildings many of the younger children eat first and the older children eat later.
· Smaller classrooms housing older students
At IJN there are some very small classrooms that would be housing bigger, older children in order to fit the 3rd-5th grade classes into that building. With class sizes upwards of 20+ students these rooms would be very crowded. How can that situation be addressed?
· Where would the BOCES 2nd-3rd Grade combined classroom fit in?
Would these students be at Washington West with the Pre-K through 2nd grade students or at IJN with the 3rd through 5th grade students. As the plan stands right now there is no room at IJN to house these students should it be decided that they should be at IJN.
· Testing modifications for grade level tests
There is a concern regarding ample space to accommodate the testing mods when all the third, fourth, and fifth graders are housed in two buildings. Also, who is going to monitor all of these children during the test?
· Busing
How will the restructuring impact the busing of the children within the district, both with the additional traffic and additional costs? It was stated that presently we are reimbursed ninety cents on the dollar for busing. With New York State having the budgetary issues it has, is there any assurance that the funding will always be there? Even with that we will be spending money that we are not presently spending. Not sure on additional costs at this point. Possibly change bus stop locations.
· Traffic Concerns
Historically traffic is a huge problem around all of the elementary schools. With the restructuring this traffic will be increased for parents who have children at more than one school. Staggering dismissal may lessen the problem somewhat but will not solve the problem.
· Attendance
What will the impact be on tardiness and attendance when we move children away from their neighborhood schools? How will the restructuring impact children and families attendance at after school activities? There will be no busses for children to take to Open House, Concerts and school functions. Additionally, will parents with children in more than one school be willing to support two PTO’s and their fundraisers? Will the support and participation of the parents’ participation be impacted negatively?
· Walking to School
Some families bought or rented their homes so they would be close to their children’s school. This allows them and their children to walk to and from school. The restructuring will remove that option and some families don’t have a vehicle to off set the hardship.
· Moving Building Supplies/Equipment/Furniture
There will be logistical and monetary issued involved with moving furniture, supplies, Playground equipment, and restroom fixtures. Who will do this?
· Kindergarten Rooms
The decision regarding who will get these rooms will impact staff morale. All of these changes will impact children, their families and the teachers. All of these issues need to be considered.
· First graders will transition each of the next two years
We must take into consideration that whenever this restructuring would be implemented first graders at Boardmanville and IJN would go to second grade at Eastview or Washington West the following year and then back to Boardmanville or IJN for third grade. How will these transitions impact those young children?
· Concerns about before and after school supervision
Whether we like it or not many third, fourth and fifth graders are depended upon to supervise/care for younger children before and/or after school. That cannot happen when they are separated from the younger children.
· Building Renovations
With the current building renovations that our schools are undertaking we feel that restructuring the current school system would be a very stressful transition for the staff should it take place before all of the building renovations are completed.
· Survey
The committee felt that in an effort to be honest and forthright with all the families affected by the restructuring plan, we should send a survey home with the children simply asking what, if any, hardships they would endure if the plan was implemented. If the cost of the survey is a concern then perhaps classroom teachers could ask a few simple questions of their students to be answered with a raising of hands. Not
For All
1. Did you walk to school today?
2. Does your family own a vehicle?
For Pre-K – 2nd Grade
1. Did you walk to school with an older brother, sister or neighbor?
For 3rd – 5th Grade
1. Do you help a younger child walk to or from school?
WashingtonWest – Ivers J. Norton Configuration
Need:
25 classes for Pre-K through 2nd grades Plus Multi-Aged BOCES Classes Breakdown: 6 – Pre-k/ (2-BOCES, 4-Olean) 5 – Kindergarten 5 – First grade 1-SPED (K-1) 5 – Second grade 1– SPED (2nd-3rd) 2-Multi-Aged, Multi disability BOCES Classrooms
Pre-K through 2nd, there would be two extra classrooms. It would be suggested that the nurse’s office be moved to one of these empty classrooms preferably near the Main Office (perhaps Rm. 134). The other extra room could be used for speech for the displaced IJN Speech room if the students we of a younger age.
If Ivers J. Norton held:
3rd – 5th Grades, they would NOT HAVE any extra classroom. The building would be filled to the MAX. There would be no room for expansion if any grade level increases. There would be NO ROOM for the BOCES 2nd-3rd Grade classroom should it be decided that IJN would be the best building for them to be in. There is no room for the 2nd speech teacher (This is also due to the library expansion). Some of the smaller toilets would have to be replaced to accomodate the older children.
Conclusion:
Ivers J. Norton could NOT hold Pre-K- 2nd Grade classes. Washington West could hold either combination of Pre-K through 2nd Grade or 3rd through 5th Grade
Eastview - Boardmanville Configuration
Need:
22 classes for Pre-K through 2nd grades Breakdown: 4 – Pre-k 5 – Kindergarten plus 1 – Sped 5 – First grade plus 1 – Sped 5 – Second grade plus 1 – Sped
19 classes for 3rd – 5th grades Breakdown: 5 – 3rd grade plus 1 – Sped 5 – 4th grade plus 1 – Sped 6 – 5th grade plus 1 - Sped
If East View held:
Pre-K through 2nd, there would be one extra room. 3rd – 5th, there would be four extra rooms.
If Boardmanville held:
Pre-K through 2nd, they would need to build four rooms. 3rd – 5th, they would have two extra rooms slotted for recess.
Conclusion:
East View could hold either one of the combinations. Boardmanville could hold 3rd – 5th grades but CANNOT hold Pre-K through 2nd.
Logistics and Facilities Research Committee
Meeting Notes 11/1/2010
Those in attendance: Jean Nickel-(Co-Chairperson), Jennifer Crawford (Co-Chairperson), Dave Olson, Jennifer Mahar, Ann Ramarge, Pat LaBella, Lisa Scanlon, Tina Jakubczyk, Danielle Keis,
Those Absent: Tonya Doxey, Molly Martinelli, Dennis Martinelli, Sabrina Gibbons, Ira Katzenstein
Meeting Start time: 3:15pm
Meeting Adjourned: 4:30pm
Location: Washington West – Art Room
The Logistics and Facilities Committee met to develop a Parental Survey that will be given to parents at the November 22 & 23 Parent conferences in regards to the reconfiguration.
The survey developed by this very diverse group is as follows:
Parents please fill out the following survey and return it to your child’s teacher Or drop it off in the survey box by the main office.
The Olean City School district is currently considering the following reconfiguration:
The district would be split between East and West. The East side schools would be East View (Pre-K through 2nd Grade) and Boardmanville (3rd through 5th Grade). The West side schools would be Washington West (Pre-K through 2nd Grade) and Ivers J. Norton Elementary (3rd through 5th Grade).
Please fill out the survey below to help us with our decision.
What grades are your children in? (Check all that apply)
Pre-K_ K 1_ 2_ 3_ 4_ 5_
How does your child typically get to school? (Check one).
CAR_ BUS_ WALK_
If the school was not in your neighborhood would you walk or have transportation to attend after school activities, such as; PTO Meetings, Concerts, or Parent-Teacher Conferences?
YES_ NO_
Do you rely on older children in your family or neighborhood to help get your child(ren) to or from school? YES_ NO_
Would your children being in different school buildings impact your parental involvement? (Check one)
NOT AT ALL_ SOMEWHAT_ GREATLY_
Would you utilize bus service for your child to and from school?
YES_ NO_
Are you for or against the reconfiguration of the Olean Elementary Schools? (Check one)
FOR_ AGAINST_ NEED MORE INFORMATION_
Name (Optional)_
Please write down any questions or concerns that you may have for the reconfiguration committee. (Optional)
_
_ Please address additional questions to Dr. Colleen Taggerty – Superintendent Logistics and Facilities Research Committee
Special Meeting 12/15/2010
Those in attendance: Jean Nickel-(Co-Chairperson), Dave Olson, Jennifer Mahar, Ann Ramarge, Tina Jakubczyk, Danielle Keis, Sabrina Gibbons
Those Absent: Jennifer Crawford-(Co-Chairperson), Tonya Doxey, Molly Martinelli, Dennis Martinelli, Sabrina Gibbons, Ira Katzenstein, Lisa Scanlon
Meeting Start time: 3:15pm
Meeting Adjourned: 4:30pm
Location: Ivers J. Norton – Art Room
The Logistics and Facilities Committee met to read and review the Parental Surveys that were given to parents at the November 22 & 23 Parent conferences in regards to the reconfiguration.
The surveys were read and information was tallied and sorted by school.
Sabrina Gibbons has volunteered to take the results from each school and generate a report based upon these results.
Side note: Sabrina Gibbons, Ann Ramarge and Ira Katzenstein met in early January at the Olean Public Library and tallied the results of the Parent Survey.
The results are as follows in the following document:
Results of the Parent Survey
General Information: 393 Parent Surveys were returned EV: 107 WW: 119 IJN: 69 BV: 98 How does your child typically get to school?
Car
Bus
Walk
EV
70.1%
13.1%
16.8%
WW
68.9%
4.2%
31.1%
IJN
60.9%
7.2%
33.3%
BV
80.6%
14.3%
5.1%
Totals*
70.7%
9.7%
21.1%
*some parents chose more than one mode of transportation which is why the percentages do not add up to 100 Are you active in after school activities such as PTO Meetings, Concerts, or Parent-Teacher Conferences?
Yes
No
EV
83%
17%
WW
75.6%
23.5%
IJN
81.2%
18.8%
BV
87.7%
10.2%
Total
81.7%
17.8%
Would your children being in different school buildings impact your parental involvement?
Not At All
Somewhat
Greatly
EV
36.4%
26.2%
30.8%
WW
37.8%
16.8%
39.5%
IJN
46.4%
15.9%
34.8%
BV
33.7%
24.5%
38.8%
Total
37.9%
21.1%
36.1%
If the “Somewhat” and “Greatly” categories are combined, the response indicates 57.2% of parents believe having children in different schools would negatively impact their involvement in some way. Do you rely on older children in your family or neighborhood to help get your child(ren) to or from school?
Yes
No
EV
29%
71%
WW
39.5%
60.5%
IJN
30.4%
69.6%
BV
35.7%
61.2%
Total
34.1%
65.4%
If a reconfiguration were to be implemented would you need transportation for your child(ren)?
Yes
No
Unsure
EV
44.9%
47.7%
WW
42.9%
52.9%
IJN
52.2%
43.5%
BV
41.8%
55.1%
Total
44.8%
50.4%
2.5%
How might the reconfiguration of the Olean elementary Schools impact your child(s) school career? PERCEIVED POSITIVES: 4.8% - Children will have a larger social network 2%- Standardize instruction/lessons 1.8% - Indicated there are no perceived positives 1.3% - Smaller class sizes .76% - Decrease in bullying .76% - gave general support for the reconfiguration .51% - just want to ensure transportation would be provided .25% - believe there could be a possible financial savings PERCEIVED NEGATIVES: 32.5% - Too many transitions and instability 24.9% - Adverse family impact including: *Siblings separated *decrease in parent ability to be involved in school 20.9% - Indicated transportation issues 18.6% - Negative impact on student’s education including: *Loss of mentoring *Reading Buddies *Teachers unfamiliar with students *Larger class sizes 1.5% - Financial concerns (taxes) 1.5% - Indicated they see no positives 1.5% - Indicate they would seek non-district education <1% - Believe it would segregate children <1% - Concerned about after school supervision <1% - Concerned of impact on BOCES/ Special Ed. Students
Facilities and Logistics Subcommittee
Chairpersons: Jean Nickel and Jen CrawfordOther members: Tina Aiello, Danielle Keis, Patrick LaBella, Lisa Scanlon
Logistics and Facilities Research Committee
Meeting Notes 8/30/2010
Those in attendance: Jen Crawford, Jean Nickel, Dave Olson, Jennifer Mahar, Molly Martinelli, Dennis Martinelli, Sabrina Gibbons, Pat LaBella
Those Absent: Tina Jakubczyk, Tina Aiello-Austin, Erin Isaman, Tonya Doxey, Rob DeFazio, Lisa Sagona
Meeting Start time: 6:00 at EV
Meeting Adjourned: 8:30
Location: Eastview Elementary
The committee met and discussed the feasibility of having EV and BV be the two schools on the west end of Olean.
We discussed several things in regards to the restructuring. Many of our questions took us back to money and education issues.
We felt that if we had a goal of what was the most important reason for the restructuring it would give us more of a focus for our purpose; but one was never established. Should our goal be to accommodate the students bathroom needs, parents needs, or to be able to drop off and pick up their child/ren or should it be the academic needs? What main need would the district like up to concentrate on?
After a very lengthy discussion we decided to tour the building. Due to the ongoing construction the building (EV) was in total disarray. Many of the discussions that we had while we toured the building seemed to go back to things related to the other 2 committees-Education + Financial.
We discussed the enormous task of moving table, chairs, desks, and other furniture to accommodate the children at each of the buildings. Who would do this? How much would that cost? When would it happen?
We also discussed the feasibility of bussing students? What happens if a student misses the bus? And their parents do not have a car to get them to the school that is far across town. ALSO, How much would buses cost to bus the children? We felt that having the children bussed would be a reoccurring cost that would happen every year—Is it really going to save the schools district money if we have to bus students year after year?
Next meeting to be on Sept. 1 @ 3:30 at Boardmanville Elementary we will tour that building and then we will move on to tour Washington West.
Logistics and Facilities Research Committee
Meeting Notes 9/1/2010
Those in attendance: Jean Nickel-(Co-Chairperson), Pat LaBella, Tina Jakubczyk
Those Absent: Jennifer Crawford, Dave Olson, Jennifer Mahar, Tina Aiello-Austin, Erin Isaman, Tonya Doxey, Rob DeFazio, Lisa Sagona, Jen Crawford, Molly Martinelli, Dennis Martinelli, Sabrina Gibbons, Pat LaBella, Lisa Scanlon, Colleen Davis
Meeting Start time: 3:30 at BV
Meeting Adjourned: 5:00
Location: Boardmanville-Washington West
We toured the building at Boardmanville, which was still under construction at the time. We then went to Washington West and viewed the facilities there.
We looked at room sizes and bathroom facilities available in the rooms.
A few questions?
Shouldn’t the older/larger students have the use of the larger facilities, such as the gym and the art room due to their physical size and abilities?
Another point brought up. The nurses facilities, most of the children that the nurse sees in the morning are K-2 age level. If we double those numbers how will the nurse be able to accommodate all of those kids at once for head checks (Lice), medications and parents that just pop in to talk to the nurse? The nurses office at Washington West is very small.
Currently all of the students are using the stairs at BV to get from one location to another, is that really an issue in deciding what building should be used for the grade level groups?
Next meeting: Sept. 13 to tour IJN at 5:00 before the general meeting at 6:00
Logistics and Facilities Research Committee
Meeting Notes 10/4/2010
Those in attendance: Jean Nickel-(Co-Chairperson), Ann Ramarge, Tina Jakubczyk, Jennifer Mahar, Sabrina Gibbons, Danielle Keis, Dave Olson
Those Absent: Jennifer Crawford, Pat LaBella, Tina Aiello-Austin, Erin Isaman, Tonya Doxey, Molly Martinelli, Dennis Martinelli
Meeting Start time: 6:00
Meeting Adjourned: 8:00pm
Location: Eastview Elementary
After reviewing the floor plans of the four elementary buildings our committee conceded that Boardmanville and Eastview Elementary could be partnered. This would mean that Eastview would house all the Pre-K through 2nd grade classes and Boardmanville would house the third, fourth, and fifth grades. Additionally Washington West and Ivers J. Norton could be partnered with Washington West housing Pre-K through 2nd Grade and IJN housing third, fourth and fifth graders. This second partnering between IJN and Washington West would be a very tight fit and would require adjustments for another speech room. (Please see the EV-BV and WW-IJN Configurations below after this report for details).Although the numbers worked in partnering the schools, the committee determined that the following questions and concerns must be addressed. Some of these are logistical with or without monetary issues and some are philosophical concerns. These questions and concerns came from individual committee members as well as the community at large.
· Pre-K students use and require more of the school nurses time.
With all of the Pre-K through 2nd grade children housed at either Eastview or Washington West, the nurses office space, as well as attending nursing personnel must be looked at very closely. On a daily basis the nurse’s office is visited by many students and/or parents in the Pre-K through 2nd grade age group. That age group has more health issues. Therefore, doubling the number of students in that age group at both Washington West and Eastview could very well overwhelm the space and personnel.
In addition to this daily overload the nurses in these buildings must complete a full physical screening of each Pre-K students within the first ninety days of school. With just two buildings housing multiple Pre-K classes this could potentially cause another overload of both space and personnel. How will we address these issues and at what cost?
· The Impact on Reading First Program
How will the Reading First programs be impacted at both of the primary buildings? Scheduling special classes for those students will be very difficult. We have adopted the plan that reading should be scheduled in the morning. In order to schedule specials for the children in the two primary buildings, some classes would have to have reading in the afternoon. Would that be in the best interest of the children? Allocations are based on the district's numbers.
· East vs West
Boardmanville and Eastview have fewer free school lunches than Washington West and Ivers J. Norton. This would divide the students economically. The Poor kids vs the Rich kids. Could this possibly affect our funding in Title 1?
· Scheduling of Lunch
Scheduling lunch times in a building of all primary aged children will be something that needs attention. Presently in elementary buildings many of the younger children eat first and the older children eat later.
· Smaller classrooms housing older students
At IJN there are some very small classrooms that would be housing bigger, older children in order to fit the 3rd-5th grade classes into that building. With class sizes upwards of 20+ students these rooms would be very crowded. How can that situation be addressed?
· Where would the BOCES 2nd-3rd Grade combined classroom fit in?
Would these students be at Washington West with the Pre-K through 2nd grade students or at IJN with the 3rd through 5th grade students. As the plan stands right now there is no room at IJN to house these students should it be decided that they should be at IJN.
· Testing modifications for grade level tests
There is a concern regarding ample space to accommodate the testing mods when all the third, fourth, and fifth graders are housed in two buildings. Also, who is going to monitor all of these children during the test?
· Busing
How will the restructuring impact the busing of the children within the district, both with the additional traffic and additional costs? It was stated that presently we are reimbursed ninety cents on the dollar for busing. With New York State having the budgetary issues it has, is there any assurance that the funding will always be there? Even with that we will be spending money that we are not presently spending. Not sure on additional costs at this point. Possibly change bus stop locations.
· Traffic Concerns
Historically traffic is a huge problem around all of the elementary schools. With the restructuring this traffic will be increased for parents who have children at more than one school. Staggering dismissal may lessen the problem somewhat but will not solve the problem.
· Attendance
What will the impact be on tardiness and attendance when we move children away from their neighborhood schools? How will the restructuring impact children and families attendance at after school activities? There will be no busses for children to take to Open House, Concerts and school functions. Additionally, will parents with children in more than one school be willing to support two PTO’s and their fundraisers? Will the support and participation of the parents’ participation be impacted negatively?
· Walking to School
Some families bought or rented their homes so they would be close to their children’s school. This allows them and their children to walk to and from school. The restructuring will remove that option and some families don’t have a vehicle to off set the hardship.
· Moving Building Supplies/Equipment/Furniture
There will be logistical and monetary issued involved with moving furniture, supplies, Playground equipment, and restroom fixtures. Who will do this?
· Kindergarten Rooms
The decision regarding who will get these rooms will impact staff morale. All of these changes will impact children, their families and the teachers. All of these issues need to be considered.
· First graders will transition each of the next two years
We must take into consideration that whenever this restructuring would be implemented first graders at Boardmanville and IJN would go to second grade at Eastview or Washington West the following year and then back to Boardmanville or IJN for third grade. How will these transitions impact those young children?
· Concerns about before and after school supervision
Whether we like it or not many third, fourth and fifth graders are depended upon to supervise/care for younger children before and/or after school. That cannot happen when they are separated from the younger children.
· Building Renovations
With the current building renovations that our schools are undertaking we feel that restructuring the current school system would be a very stressful transition for the staff should it take place before all of the building renovations are completed.
· Survey
The committee felt that in an effort to be honest and forthright with all the families affected by the restructuring plan, we should send a survey home with the children simply asking what, if any, hardships they would endure if the plan was implemented. If the cost of the survey is a concern then perhaps classroom teachers could ask a few simple questions of their students to be answered with a raising of hands. Not
WashingtonWest – Ivers J. Norton Configuration
Need:
25 classes for Pre-K through 2nd grades Plus Multi-Aged BOCES Classes
Breakdown: 6 – Pre-k/ (2-BOCES, 4-Olean)
5 – Kindergarten
5 – First grade
1-SPED (K-1)
5 – Second grade
1– SPED (2nd-3rd)
2-Multi-Aged, Multi disability BOCES Classrooms
14 classes for 3rd – 5th grades
Breakdown: 5 – 3rd grade
4 – 4th grade
5 – 5th grade
If Washington West held:
Pre-K through 2nd, there would be two extra classrooms.
It would be suggested that the nurse’s office be moved to one of these empty classrooms preferably near the Main Office (perhaps Rm. 134). The other extra room could be used for speech for the displaced IJN Speech room if the students we of a younger age.
If Ivers J. Norton held:
3rd – 5th Grades, they would NOT HAVE any extra classroom. The building would be filled to the MAX. There would be no room for expansion if any grade level increases. There would be NO ROOM for the BOCES 2nd-3rd Grade classroom should it be decided that IJN would be the best building for them to be in. There is no room for the 2nd speech teacher (This is also due to the library expansion). Some of the smaller toilets would have to be replaced to accomodate the older children.
Conclusion:
Ivers J. Norton could NOT hold Pre-K- 2nd Grade classes.
Washington West could hold either combination of Pre-K through 2nd Grade or 3rd through 5th Grade
Eastview - Boardmanville Configuration
Need:
22 classes for Pre-K through 2nd grades
Breakdown: 4 – Pre-k
5 – Kindergarten plus 1 – Sped
5 – First grade plus 1 – Sped
5 – Second grade plus 1 – Sped
19 classes for 3rd – 5th grades
Breakdown: 5 – 3rd grade plus 1 – Sped
5 – 4th grade plus 1 – Sped
6 – 5th grade plus 1 - Sped
If East View held:
Pre-K through 2nd, there would be one extra room.
3rd – 5th, there would be four extra rooms.
If Boardmanville held:
Pre-K through 2nd, they would need to build four rooms.
3rd – 5th, they would have two extra rooms slotted for recess.
Conclusion:
East View could hold either one of the combinations.
Boardmanville could hold 3rd – 5th grades but CANNOT hold Pre-K through 2nd.
Logistics and Facilities Research Committee
Meeting Notes 11/1/2010
Those in attendance: Jean Nickel-(Co-Chairperson), Jennifer Crawford (Co-Chairperson), Dave Olson, Jennifer Mahar, Ann Ramarge, Pat LaBella, Lisa Scanlon, Tina Jakubczyk, Danielle Keis,
Those Absent: Tonya Doxey, Molly Martinelli, Dennis Martinelli, Sabrina Gibbons, Ira Katzenstein
Meeting Start time: 3:15pm
Meeting Adjourned: 4:30pm
Location: Washington West – Art Room
The Logistics and Facilities Committee met to develop a Parental Survey that will be given to parents at the November 22 & 23 Parent conferences in regards to the reconfiguration.
The survey developed by this very diverse group is as follows:
Parents please fill out the following survey and return it to your child’s teacher Or drop it off in the survey box by the main office.
The Olean City School district is currently considering the following reconfiguration:
The district would be split between East and West. The East side schools would be East View (Pre-K through 2nd Grade) and Boardmanville (3rd through 5th Grade). The West side schools would be Washington West (Pre-K through 2nd Grade) and Ivers J. Norton Elementary (3rd through 5th Grade).
Please fill out the survey below to help us with our decision.
What grades are your children in? (Check all that apply)
Pre-K_ K 1_ 2_ 3_ 4_ 5_
How does your child typically get to school? (Check one).
CAR_ BUS_ WALK_
If the school was not in your neighborhood would you walk or have transportation to attend after school activities, such as; PTO Meetings, Concerts, or Parent-Teacher Conferences?
YES_ NO_
Do you rely on older children in your family or neighborhood to help get your child(ren) to or from school? YES_ NO_
Would your children being in different school buildings impact your parental involvement? (Check one)
NOT AT ALL_ SOMEWHAT_ GREATLY_
Would you utilize bus service for your child to and from school?
YES_ NO_
Are you for or against the reconfiguration of the Olean Elementary Schools? (Check one)
FOR_ AGAINST_ NEED MORE INFORMATION_
Name (Optional)_
Please write down any questions or concerns that you may have for the reconfiguration committee. (Optional)
_
_
Please address additional questions to Dr. Colleen Taggerty – Superintendent
Logistics and Facilities Research Committee
Special Meeting 12/15/2010
Those in attendance: Jean Nickel-(Co-Chairperson), Dave Olson, Jennifer Mahar, Ann Ramarge, Tina Jakubczyk, Danielle Keis, Sabrina Gibbons
Those Absent: Jennifer Crawford-(Co-Chairperson), Tonya Doxey, Molly Martinelli, Dennis Martinelli, Sabrina Gibbons, Ira Katzenstein, Lisa Scanlon
Meeting Start time: 3:15pm
Meeting Adjourned: 4:30pm
Location: Ivers J. Norton – Art Room
The Logistics and Facilities Committee met to read and review the Parental Surveys that were given to parents at the November 22 & 23 Parent conferences in regards to the reconfiguration.
The surveys were read and information was tallied and sorted by school.
Sabrina Gibbons has volunteered to take the results from each school and generate a report based upon these results.
Side note: Sabrina Gibbons, Ann Ramarge and Ira Katzenstein met in early January at the Olean Public Library and tallied the results of the Parent Survey.
The results are as follows in the following document:
Results of the Parent Survey
General Information:
393 Parent Surveys were returned
EV: 107 WW: 119 IJN: 69 BV: 98
How does your child typically get to school?
Are you active in after school activities such as PTO Meetings, Concerts, or Parent-Teacher Conferences?
Would your children being in different school buildings impact your parental involvement?
If the “Somewhat” and “Greatly” categories are combined, the response indicates 57.2% of parents believe having children in different schools would negatively impact their involvement in some way.
Do you rely on older children in your family or neighborhood to help get your child(ren) to or from school?
If a reconfiguration were to be implemented would you need transportation for your child(ren)?
How might the reconfiguration of the Olean elementary Schools impact your child(s) school career?
PERCEIVED POSITIVES:
4.8% - Children will have a larger social network
2%- Standardize instruction/lessons
1.8% - Indicated there are no perceived positives
1.3% - Smaller class sizes
.76% - Decrease in bullying
.76% - gave general support for the reconfiguration
.51% - just want to ensure transportation would be provided
.25% - believe there could be a possible financial savings
PERCEIVED NEGATIVES:
32.5% - Too many transitions and instability
24.9% - Adverse family impact including:
*Siblings separated
*decrease in parent ability to be involved in school
20.9% - Indicated transportation issues
18.6% - Negative impact on student’s education including:
*Loss of mentoring
*Reading Buddies
*Teachers unfamiliar with students
*Larger class sizes
1.5% - Financial concerns (taxes)
1.5% - Indicated they see no positives
1.5% - Indicate they would seek non-district education
<1% - Believe it would segregate children
<1% - Concerned about after school supervision
<1% - Concerned of impact on BOCES/ Special Ed. Students